Everyone knows that networking is a “key” skill for both entrepreneurs and career men and women but how many of us effectively and efficiently use it for the growth of our businesses, professional and personal relationships and more?
There are important factors to consider if we’re looking to expand and leverage our network for success.
1. Be Authentic – When you’re networking with someone, understand that it’s a mutual relationship. It’s not just about what you can get from the relationship but what you can give as well. Understand that as you take, you have to give!
2. Be Fearless – Approach any situation be it a phone call, attending an event, walking up to someone and speaking or dropping a note with great courage. Have no fear when you approach people because people want to help, they’re just very busy.
3. Connect – When you connect on some level with someone, it makes everything easier and less awkward. Find someone you share something in common with and then figure out how you can divulge the relationship in the future.
4. Make it a Win-Win – With Networking, always bring something valuable for someone you’d like to connect with and that way, you’d make what could have been a one off relationship something bigger and better in the future. Networking is beyond passing out business cards … it’s more about developing a relationship.
What are some things you’ve done in the past that has worked for you in terms of building your network? Please share in the comment section below, we’d love to hear it.